Firm Events December 10, 2026  |  12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ET

District Court vs. PTAB: Strategic Forum Selection in Life Sciences Patent Disputes

Join Troutman Pepper Locke Partners Alan Clement and Andy Zappia for a practical look at how pharma and biotech companies can use district court litigation and Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) proceedings to challenge and defend life sciences patents. This webinar will explore how the forums differ in procedure, timing, and strategy; how to determine which forum is most appropriate for a given dispute; and how to coordinate parallel proceedings to support litigation objectives.

Key topics include:

  • Timing, cost, and procedural differences between forums.
  • Burdens of proof, claim construction, and how they can impact outcomes.
  • Available defenses and the scope of estoppel in inter partes review and ex parte reexamination proceedings.
  • Comparison between different aspects of Hatch-Waxman and BPCIA litigation, including regulatory exclusivities, the 30-month stay, and the BPCIA patent dance.
  • Strategies for choosing between forums and coordinating parallel proceedings.

Attendees will leave with practical guidance on where to challenge or defend a life sciences patent dispute and how to manage proceedings to support their litigation and business goals.

This session is approved for general MCLE credit for California, Illinois, New York (newly admitted and experienced), Pennsylvania, and Texas, and Connecticut and New Jersey (through reciprocity). Credit may be available for other states upon request, subject to state restrictions. Attendees must complete the survey before it closes to receive credit. Surveys close one week after the program date. Attendees can expect to receive their CLE certificate(s) for approved states within 30 business days of the program date. If you have any questions about CLE credits or have not received your certificate by that date, please email CLEManagement@Troutman.com.